Clement Macintyre Answers to Critics of Parliament House
Australian Broadcasting Corporation - Department of the Senate
Since the Athenians, western democracy tends to be carried out in big, grand buildings. Very big. Often with columns. Or, as in the case of the Australian Federal Parliament House, buildings that are pretty close to entirely underground.When the building that retains the moniker "New" Parliament House, despite reaching the landmark age of 20 this year, was opened in 1988, there was predictable controversy.Even a facade including columns reminiscent of the old parliament house didn't silence critics who wondered why we needed a $1.1 billion change of parliamentary location - Department of the Senate, Australia